permission in the promise.

Today’s post is a guest post from one of my dear friends, Jordan McGuffin. Jordan thinks more than she speaks and every word she writes carries weight. I’m honored to have her thoughts here today.

You know, the beginning of a blog used to be my favorite part to write. It is the section that draws people in (because you know if you aren’t hooked by the first couple of sentences…wait come back! There’s more.). It’s the tone setter—the place where momentum begins and anticipation arises.

I’m starting to believe that the anticipation, the expectation if you will, is actually a bigger part of the story than I once realized.

Let’s look at the Israelites journey really quick. I mean really, where else would we turn to during these 31 days of truth that Kelly has been writing about?

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites…’” –Numbers 13:1-2

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’” –Numbers 13:30

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” –Numbers 14:24

These three verses tell me that God told the Israelites that he was going to GIVE them the land, and all he asked was that they explore. He in no way implied, that they go in and deem it a possible or impossible promise. I believe he wanted them to see and dream of what could, and what would be theirs!

While I am in the midst of a wilderness season of my own, I am so intrigued by Caleb. I read and re-read these verses about the promise God has spoken over the Israelites and their journey to see it come to pass, and six words ring louder and louder in my head:

There is Permission in the Promise.

Caleb had a “different spirit.” He smelled of hope and dreams. He feasted on the promise of God—despite where he found himself each day. The very definition of a promise includes the words “a right to expect.”—look it up (use Google!) Caleb and Joshua were the only ones to enter the promise land via the wilderness.

Did you catch that? They made it through the wilderness, and not any faster than the next guy. He is giving us permission, no matter where we are in the journey, to expect the fulfillment of his promises.

God is not asking us whether or not it is possible for his promises to be fulfilled in our life, rather he is giving us permission to anticipate and expect for when they are.

Since life is often times more about the journey and questions rather than the destination and answers, THEN let me ask you…

What does it mean for you to have permission in the promise? For me it means there is permission for me too hope and believe in what God says—not cover myself with the all too prevalent doubt and fear.

This post is part of 31 days of truth from the wilderness. Click here to see all blogs in this series.

“Permission to hope…to let expectation and anticipation rise in your bones.” Feeling it rise today! Thank you for your words!

cindy

gosh, Jordy, this is awesome. i absolutely LOVE hearing your thoughts. hope and expectation ooze from every word that comes out your mouth. proud to call you friend.

Jordan

Thanks Cindo!

Ashley Musick

This makes me want to stop and look for more promises… even though it feels like a desert season with some of the promises I believe have already been given to me, continuing to look for new promises is a prophetic act that they will all come to pass!